Premier Li Keqiang attends the 18th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Nov 2, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]
Premier Li Keqiang on Nov 3 urged all countries involved to complete negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea under the jointly decided timetable and to safeguard the lasting peace and stability in the region.
The Premier, speaking at the 22nd China-ASEAN leaders' meeting in Bangkok, said all parties involved in the negotiations should rise above disturbance, meet each other half way and complete the second reading of the draft text of the COC in the South China Sea next year.
The first reading of the text has been completed ahead of schedule, and completion on the second reading of the text in 2020 will lay a solid foundation for the completion of negotiations before the end of 2021, Premier Li said.
He noted that the situation in the South China Sea has remained generally stable with concerted efforts from all countries involved.
The COC will be an upgrade to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, signed between China and ASEAN member states in November 2002.
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